Engineer413

Im recently finishing up my degree in engineering and will hopefully be transfering in the fall of next year to a state university for my bachelors in flight science. When all said and done it should take around 2.5 years by the time all of my schooling is done, and 3 years for my flight. Year one being instrument and ground training, the next being commercial, and the third being certifications to become a flight instructor... I will begin by getting my PPL this summer, which will be paid and then student loans must be taken next year. I do not have any cuurently and just not sure what deals or how you guys went about it during your schooling career. All said and done I should be around 45k -50k in the hole, but planning on a little more when all said and done. Im just thinking that a $500 a month plan while only minimum money for several years after graduating is a hard plan. Ive heard of loans that do not need to be paid until 2 years after graduation, but still I would be making minimum money...

TallFlyer

You already have a 4 year degree (or soon will) so your plan to get a Flight Science degree is overkill; it's not required to get to where you want to go. ESPECIALLY if there's debt involved. The absolutely last thing you need when embarking on an aviation career is more debt and payments.

The best advice I can give you is get on indeed.com, find the highest paying engineering position you can, and pay for your flight training out of pocket. Your cash flow will thank you later.

jungle

After getting an engineering degree you will find flight school to be child's play. All you need are some standard text books and a good flight instructor.

Easy test prep methods abound. No worries and stay out of debt.

Engineer413

I'm sorry haha my engineering degree is only an associates... So when I transfer I will have most courses transfer and only around 2 years of schooling left... So I will not have a 4-year degree.

HSLD

We have a student loan calculator to give an estimate of payments and total cost of a student loan here: Airline Pilot Central - Handling College Loan Repayment

Like everyone else says, stay out of debt.

slujaime

why not transfer and complete a bachelors in engineering? plenty of part 61 places to complete your training, while you work. jungle is right, with an engineering degree flight school would be easy. I know it was for me, and my degrees are in history! like everyone else says, stay out of debt

Engineer413

Well because I didnt really look into that route! Loans wouldnt be as bad some other people on here say... And really flight school isnt that bad?

JamesNoBrakes

For the love of god, get the engineering degree. Want a shot at being a test pilot for boeing or someone else in the future? You'll need the engineering degree. It'll give you extreme insight and ability if you ever want to do something else that's still IN aviation.

A big reason is that you're already close with an associates. No other degree would benefit you as much in aviation IMO. Any "aviation" degree is literally worthless, since they don't get you pilot jobs (pilot experience gets you that). Flight "science" isn't a science and it's a worthless degree. All degrees only help to get you a job where you really learn how to do your job, but the "flight science" doesn't even help to open any doors. Flight time does that.

As far as the flight training, 75K is more realistic for a 50K loan when you consider interest. Even though it's 50K loan, you'll really end up paying around 75K.

Engineer413

Then go to school get my 4 year for engineering.. Then go and do my flight courses?

Wingman84

Student loans are outrageous. Have you tried applying for income based repayment?